IHG is the loyalty program of these brands, including InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, and Holiday Inn.

The 100% bonus kicks in at 5,000+ points purchased.

*If you buy 58,000 IHG points by March 22 you’ll actually receive 116,000 points for $580, or 0.5 cents each, as View from the Wing pointed out. Who knows why–looks like an error to me.

The maximum number of points you can purchase is 60,000 plus bonus points, meaning 120,000 total points.

IHG range from 10,000 to 70,000 points per night. There was a devaluation many were unhappy with that hit this past January. There are some OK deals on this chart–not nearly as many as before January–but the best use of IHG Rewards points is always to book PointBreaks hotels for 5,000 points per night.

When to Buy (Math)

Is buying IHG points for 0.575 (or .5) cents each a good deal?

I would not buy IHG points speculatively for 0.575 (nor .5) cents each because I value them at 0.5 cents each and I’d rather have cash than hotel points. But if you have an immediate high value redemption in mind or if you are preparing your account for future PointBreaks, buying points can be a good deal.

For instance, with a 100% bonus, PointBreaks hotels are $28.75 (or $25) per night. Category 1 properties would be $57.50 (or $50) per night. Top tier properties would be $402.50 per night. Remember those numbers are before taxes, as you will pay taxes in addition to points.

For all these categories, you can get a big discount off the retail nightly rate if you travel at a peak time.

Search your dream hotel to see how many points you’d need to book the hotel you want for a night. Search the dates you’d like to stay to see the paid price. If buying the points makes sense, there is award space on your dates, and you are ready to redeem now, buy the points.

InterContinental Resort and Spa Moorea Hotelin French Polynesia

Buy IHG Points with These Credit Cards

IHG points purchases are processed by points.com, so the purchases will not code as a bonus “travel” or “hotel” purchase on any credit card. You will not earn category bonuses from the purchase of IHG points.

That means you should make the purchase with whatever card you need to meet a minimum spending requirement on or with the card that earns the point or mile you value the highest.

Bottom Line

You can buy IHG Points for as little as 0.575 (or .5) cents until Thursday. It’s pretty much never a good idea to buy points speculatively in these kind of sales, but there are a lot of immediate awards you can book where that price offers great value.

Editorial Disclaimer: The editorial content is not provided or commissioned by the credit card issuers. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of the credit card issuers, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuers.

The comments section below is not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all questions are answered.

Sarah Page Maxwell became a miles nerd after moving her base to Buenos Aires and beginning a transient lifestyle that would be otherwise too expensive without miles and points. In addition to travel, her other passions include hot sauce, yoga, and her boston terrier Omar.

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Editorial Disclosure

Content is not provided or commissioned by the credit card issuers. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of the credit card issuers, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuers. These responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered. For more information or to see the MileValue Privacy Policy, click here.

Sarah Page Maxwell is a miles aficionado and avid traveler, born in Virginia, raised in North Carolina, and currently based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She has earned and redeemed millions of miles for herself and others. Traveling for free, the 29-year-old has been to 20+ countries, making sure to catch as many sunsets in each that she can.

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MileValue is the only miles-and-points blog that thinks systematically about the value of your miles and how to maximize that value!

Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which MileValue.com receives compensation if you are approved. Compensation impacts placement of cards on the credit card page and banner placement, but does not on the articles posted on MileValue.com. This site does not include all credit card offers available in the marketplace.

Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which MileValue.com receives compensation if you are approved. Compensation impacts placement of cards on the credit card page and banner placement, but does not on the articles posted on MileValue.com. This site does not include all credit card offers available in the marketplace.